(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for UFC 238’s losing fighters?)
After every event, fans wonder whom the winners will be matched up with next.
With another night of UFC action in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward, put on a pair of Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard’s shoes, and play UFC matchmaker for UFC 238’s key winning fighters.
Those included Henry Cejudo (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) , who defeated Marlon Moraes (21-6-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC), to win the UFC bantamweight title in the main event at United Center in Chicago, as well as Valentina Shevchenko (17-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) , who defended her women’s flyweight title against Jessica Eye (14-7 MMA, 4-6 UFC) in the co-headliner.
In addition, Tony Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC) , Petr Yan (13-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC), Blagoy Ivanov (18-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Tatiana Suarez (8-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC), Aljamain Sterling (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and Katlyn Chookagian (12-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) picked up notable wins.
Tatiana Suarez
Should fight: Jessica Andrade
Why they should fight: Although she had to endure a third-round charge from Nina Ansaroff, the end result was another win for the undefeated Suarez, who looks ready for a title shot in the strawweight division after taking a unanimous decision.
Suarez wasn’t the one-sided wrecking ball she’s shown in some of her past performances, but that should be more of a credit to Ansaroff. The wrestling skillset is going to give Suarez a big chance to win any fight, but the challenges are only going to get greater as she attempts to become a UFC champion with multiple title defenses.
The skillset of Suarez would make for a very compelling challenge against newly minted 115-pound champ Andrade (20-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC). The Brazilian could cause some serious problems on the feet, but once Suarez as grounded her opponents there’s been no real answers. It’s the fight to make, but it’s entirely possible ex-champ Rose Namajunas gets an immediate rematch with Andrade or Michelle Waterson skips the queue (despite Dana White saying otherwise) to fight for the belt.
Blagoy Ivanov
Should fight: Derrick Lewis
Why they should fight: After dropping his UFC debut, Ivanov is beginning to make some noise in the heavyweight division after he picked up his second consecutive octagon triumph with a unanimous decision victory over a dangerous foe in Tai Tuivasa.
Ivanov doesn’t do anything at an exceptional level when he ‘s in the cage, but he appears to be rather well rounded and is impossibly tough, which is a fair that can take a fighter a long way at heavyweight.
How would Ivanov’s chin hold up against arguably the hardest hitter in the division, though? That would be one questioned answered in a potential matchup with Lewis (21-7 MMA, 12-5 UFC). “The Black Beast” has been sidelined since March after undergoing knee surgery but is targeting a return to action sometime this year. If the timeline fits, Ivanov could be a fitting foe for his comeback.
Petr Yan
Should fight: Winner of Raphael Assuncao vs. Cory Sandhagen at UFC 241
Why they should fight: Yan’s fifth victory since making his UFC debut less than one year ago was his biggest to date as he outpointed a game opponent in Jimmie Rivera for a unanimous decision to continue his surge up the UFC bantamweight pecking order.
Yan’s striking ability is something to behold and thus far it has caused serious problems for every opponent he’s faced in his UFC tenure. He believes his body of work so far puts him at the top of the list for a title shot, but it appears Cejudo has no intent of defending against one of the top 135-pound contenders. And even if he wins, there’s a good chance Sterling would still be ahead in the queue.
The winner of Assuncao (27-6 MMA, 11-3 UFC) vs. Sandhagen (11-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC), who fight at UFC 241 in August, would be a perfect top contender fight. The fight isn’t for a few months, though, so it would mean Yan would have to take a longer break than anything he’s experienced so far in his UFC career.
Tony Ferguson
Should fight: Winner of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Dustin Poirier at UFC 242
Why they should fight: There’s no need for beating around the bush: Ferguson needs to be fighting for a UFC title after he pushed his winning streak to a 12 fights with a victory over Donald Cerrone. The finish may have been anticlimactic due to the nature of the doctor’s stoppage finish, but “El Cucuy” put in work to damage Cerrone and got the rightful win.
How a potential return of Conor McGregor impacts the lightweight title picture remains to be seen. But with all things people equal and rightful, Ferguson should without question be getting the winner of Nurmagomedov (27-0 MMA, 11-0 UFC) vs. Poirier (25-5 MMA, 17-4 UFC), who meet in a 155-pound title unifier at UFC 242 on Sept. 7 in Abu Dhabi.
Valentina Shevchenko
Should fight: Katlyn Chookagian
Why they should fight: Watch the video above to see why Shevchenko should fight Chookagian for her second women’s flyweight title defense.
Henry Cejudo
Should fight: Aljamain Sterling or winner of Joseph Benavidez vs. Jussier Formiga at UFC on ESPN 3
Why they should fight: Watch the video above to see why Cejudo should either defend his bantamweight title against Sterling next or his flyweight title against the winner of Benavidez (27-5 MMA, 14-3 UFC) vs. Formiga (23-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC), who fight at UFC on ESPN 3 on June 29.
For complete coverage of UFC 238, check out the UFC Events section of the site.
